associāˈtion /-si- or -shi-/ noun

1. An act of associating
2. Union or combination
3. A society of persons joined to promote some object
4. A plant or animal community, usu occupying a wide area, consisting of a definite population of species (biology)
5. Loose aggregation of molecules (chem)
6. An old name for association football (see below)
7. Connection of thoughts or of feelings
8. (usu in pl) thought, feeling or memory, more or less permanently connected with eg a place, an occurrence, or something said
9. A relationship between the EU and certain other countries, eg in Africa and the Caribbean, being more than just a trade agreement but with the associated members not enjoying membership of the EU

associaˈtional adjective

associaˈtionism noun (psychology)

The theory which considers association of ideas to be the basis of all mental activity

assōˈciātive adjective

1. Tending to association
2. Such that (a*b)*c=a*(b*c), where * denotes a binary operation (mathematics)

associativity /-ə-tivˈ/ noun

assoˈciator noun

associate professor noun

In N America, Australia and New Zealand, a university or college teacher immediately below professor in rank

association copy noun

A copy of a book deriving additional interest from some association, eg a copy inscribed as given to or by some person of note

association football noun

(also soccer) a form of football, using a round ball, with 11 players on each side

associative learning noun

Learning based on association of ideas (qv below)

associative memory noun (computing and psychology)

A memory system in which a particular input is associated with a particular output

associative storage noun (computing)

A storage device in which information is identified by content rather than by address

association of ideas

Mental linkage that facilitates recollection, eg by similarity, contiguity or repetition